Keith Oliver Part Two ‘Dear Alzheimer’s’

Dear Dementia Letters

 Dear reader

I feel I am well placed to recognize and appreciate the importance attached to the kind, considerate and non judgemental support of friends, and I hope that this is reflected in the letters section of my book. The concept began through such a friendship with Eric and Jen, both of whom encouraged me to read and give thought to the writings of C.S. Lewis, part of which was them introducing me to the book “The Screwtape Letters.” This is in essence an ironic portrayal of human life from the point of view of Screwtape an apprentice nephew of the devil. Associated with this, whilst the letters may be seen constructively by some as epistolary this was not my intention.

 Initially I took this idea and tried to write letters from Dr Alzheimer to me, or anyone sharing their brain with, as Terry Pratchett termed it “This wretched Embuggerance.” The resulting initial letter was though so depressing and dark that I felt the reader would be too alarmed by the content. So, after giving it some considerable further thought I decided to turn the concept on its head and write from myself to the dark beast which dwells in my brain which at times I humanize as “Dr Alzheimer”. This in turn morphed slightly, partly out of respect to Dr AloisAlzheimer whose name is now forever associated with this disease, into letters to “Dear Dementia”.

I would not wish you the reader to think that I feel there is anything “dear”  about dementia or communicating with it, but I ask that you consider this on two levels, firstly the letters are actually written to myself, and are designed to help confirm that I am not easily giving in to the clutches of the disease, and secondly the use of the word dear is meant to convey a sense of irony and sarcasm which I think is further endorsed in the way I have signed off and closed each letter.

Whilst there is an element of creativity and originality in the letters they are not to be read as fiction, they are in my mind factual and truthful, based upon notes taken from my diaries and journals, and should be read alongside the larger sections of the book which is diary based and upon which the letters are closely drawn.

So, dear reader, and this time the sentiment is sincere and genuine I hope that with this in mind you like what I have attempted to convey, and that irrespective of where you are coming from to my book you can take something from this.

Many thanks

Very best wishes

Keith